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NHMRC funds to boost medical research

ANU medical researchers have won more than $10 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The NHMRC has announced grants for 16 ANU projects in its October 2014 funding round.

A new Centre for Research Excellence, the Centre for Personalised Immunology, will receive $2.5 million over five years. The centre is using gene sequencing technology to help fight immune system diseases.

“We have had early successes, but this large-scale funding is exhilarating. Now we can finally understand disease in individuals, this will make a huge difference to patients,” said Professor Carola Vinuesa, lead Chief Investigator on the Project and researcher from the John Curtin School of Medical Research.

“This has been a collaborative effort 10 years in the making. This will cement the careers of a number of very bright young researchers.”

Associate Professor David Tscharke from the Research School of Biology was awarded $1.3 million in two separate grants, for his work into viruses such as influenza and herpes.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Margaret Harding said that this new NHMRC funding is very important to the University’s commitment to build capacity and undertake outstanding research in health and medical sciences.

“We congratulate our researchers and their support teams on their success today that enables us to continue to deliver great health benefits for society,” Professor Harding said.